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Tips and Trends

Getting started

As you ponder the endless options to personalize your new home we want to offer a few pieces of advice to get you started. The key to making the most of your Design Studio appointment is to be prepared.

First, we recommend that you create your dream home wish list – make note of the products you’ve been dreaming of such as a soaker tub, hardwood floors, or gleaming quartz countertops.

Ask yourself the following questions, and then think of how each of them may impact the selections you make for your new home:

What overall look do you want to achieve; formal, casual, elegant?

What is your personal style; modern, traditional, rustic, or something in between?

Do you have children that may require a play area or teen retreat?

Do you need a low maintenance lifestyle?

Do you work from home and require a home office?

Do you love to cook and entertain, where the kitchen is the gathering place in the home?

Do you have any pets? This may influence your choice of flooring.

Is there anyone in the household with allergies or health concerns?

Prior to attending your design studio appointment here are a few things you can do to prepare:

Determine your budget for upgrades. Keep in mind your bonus offer, décor dollars and the cost translation of upgrades into your mortgage payments, which is often just a few extra dollars each month.

Beware of trends that are not here to stay. Will you still love it a few years down the road?

Keep in mind how you live and imagine your rooms with people/pets in them…what’s practical and comfortable.

Don’t forget about any lighting requirements: under cabinet valance lighting or ceiling fans. It’s much easier to make electrical changes before your home is built rather than after to accommodate your lighting needs.

Resale value; which selections will translate into a higher resale value, such as kitchen upgrades or hardwood flooring. When in doubt, neutrals are usually the safest bet.